2026-27 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion | Official: Sundin & Chayka to lead front office

[cw]

If Auston comes to management in the pre-season, says, 'I love all the moves. I believe in you guys. I want to be here long term, I want to see this through.' --- Should management say, 'What about a trade?'

No
Management would probably say "great!" So would most Leafs fans including me.
And then we would see how he does recovering from his injuries and how well he meshes with the players they have him playing with, etc.
Even if he's still damaged, he's probably better than the vast majority of the league.
The other thing some fans commonly miss observing with him - like they have with other Leafs - is his two way play.
But they would have time to assess the whole player post injury to determine what they and he would do come July 1, 2027.
That would be great but I doubt that is what will happen.

I do not want to get rid of the guy. He's one of the best players the Leafs have ever had. His departure leaves an enormous hole. They'll have to rebuild. I just don't want to lose him for next to nothing. I fear he's been planning for this potential exit since he signed his current deal for only 4 years - leaving $53 million on the table. The lack of prospects and age of the team make it difficult to assemble a sustainable contender for the upcoming years of his new contract. That is why I'm pessimistic.

 

[rdowdall]

No
Management would probably say "great!" So would most Leafs fans including me.
And then we would see how he does recovering from his injuries and how well he meshes with the players they have him playing with, etc.
Even if he's still damaged, he's probably better than the vast majority of the league.
The other thing some fans commonly miss observing with him - like they have with other Leafs - is his two way play.
But they would have time to assess the whole player post injury to determine what they and he would do come July 1, 2027.
That would be great but I doubt that is what will happen.

I do not want to get rid of the guy. He's one of the best players the Leafs have ever had. His departure leaves an enormous hole. They'll have to rebuild. I just don't want to lose him for next to nothing. I fear he's been planning for this potential exit since he signed his current deal for only 4 years - leaving $53 million on the table. The lack of prospects and age of the team make it difficult to assemble a sustainable contender for the upcoming years of his new contract. That is why I'm pessimistic.

What you don't trust is Leafs management. Whether Matthews wants to stay or leave, it doesn't really matter. Leafs management has to do smart things either way. When the Leafs get to July 1st next year, they ask Matthews to sign a contract. They work on that deal. If the deal isn't working out, then they ask Matthews for a list of teams that he wants to be traded to. Then you start working on a deal. The only way it goes sideways is if Matthews says no to giving a list, and plays out his final year just to spite the Leafs. I doubt very highly that Matthews does that. I could be wrong, but I think if Matthews knows he isn't going to sign here, he wouldn't mind getting a head start on a new team.

Where this differs from the contract talks that happened with other players, is that there was still hope that the team would do something in the playoffs. If things had gone differently, then that offseason may have gone differently as well. If this year goes poorly, I don't think there will still be that sort of feeling around the team.

There are a lot of variables that will go into what the Leafs get for Matthews. The biggest one will be, what does he look like next year. If he scores another 50 - 60 goals this year, I don't think the package for him next year will be all that different than it would be this year.

 

[cw]

What you don't trust is Leafs management.

Because I don't know them. Not because of anything the current new management has done.

The new Leafs management has inherited a tough situation through no fault of their own.

It is a very difficult thing to fix in 12 months or before when Matthews will presumably make his decision.

...
I could be wrong, but I think if Matthews knows he isn't going to sign here, he wouldn't mind getting a head start on a new team.

He has indicated that he'd like to see what the team is going to look like. He can't get a head start on that until there is a team for him to look at.

...
There are a lot of variables that will go into what the Leafs get for Matthews. The biggest one will be, what does he look like next year. If he scores another 50 - 60 goals this year, I don't think the package for him next year will be all that different than it would be this year.

If he scores 15 goals in the first 20 games, they'll have a fair indication that he's back. The return they would get goes up.
If the team is getting lit up, then maybe he makes his call to move on then.
Typically, the more contract time that gets traded, the greater the return.

The sooner both parties have a direction, the better.

 

[rdowdall]

He has indicated that he'd like to see what the team is going to look like. He can't get a head start on that until there is a team for him to look at.

Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant next off season. Matthews is eligible to sign an extension next July 1st (unless that changed in the CBA, I thought you had the last year in the contract to negotiate). That gives management a bunch of time before the last season starts to assess the situation. He'd still be under contract for the year. You can trade him before the season starts. As long as there is a bidding war, you'll get a decent package. No matter if the Leafs trade Matthews tomorrow, at the trade deadline, or next July 1st, the Leafs are losing the deal. All you are hoping with a Matthews deal is that you cut the rebuild time done by jump starting it with assets, but the chances the Leafs are getting a player of Matthews quality in the deal are slim to none.